Analgesic, antipyretic, nephritic and antioxidant effects of the aerial parts of Bassia eriophora (Family: Chenopodiaceae) plant on rats

Objective: To study analgesic, antipyretic, renal and antioxidant effects of the aerial parts of Bassia eriophora (Family: Chenopodiaceae) (B. eriophora), a wild plant in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Alcoholic extract (90%) of the aerial parts of B. eriophora was tested for analgesic, antipyretic, nephritic and antioxidant activities, to show their therapeutic potential. For analgesic effect, hot plate and writhing methods were used while for antipyretic effect, rectal temperature method was used. The renal protective effects and antioxidant properties were determined through CCl₄-intoxicated animal method. Results: Animals treated with dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, after 90 min showed significant analgesic effect (8.10 ± 0.18 and 8.10 ± 0.12) respectively, comparable to indomethacin (9.18 ± 0.22) in hot plate method, while in writhing method, the percentage reduction accounted for 55.14% and 68.38% at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively. The antipyretic effect using rectal temperature method after 90 min, at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight was 35.66 ± 0.13, comparatively more effective than indomethacin (35.10 ± 0.22). The significant reduction of CCl₄ on elevated creatinine, urea, uric acid, Ca, Na and K as well as increase on the depleted total protein after administration of the plant extract, indicated the safe use in kidney dysfunctions. The normalization of changed CCl₄ intoxication, malondialdehyde and nonprotein sulfhydryls levels designated antioxidant nature of this plant. The histopathological evaluation of the kidney also revealed that B. eriophora alcoholic extract may prevent the occurrence of kidney lesions. Conclusions: B. eriophora may have analgesic, antipyretic and antioxidant activities, and may be safely used in renal toxicity conditions. Furthermore, pharmacological and clinical studies were required before therapeutic use.